!

That graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead.
O Cæsar! these things are beyond all use,
And I do fear them!

Cæs. What can be avoided,

Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?
Yet Cæsar shall go forth: for these predictions
Are to the world in general, as to Cæsar.

Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets scen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

Cæs. Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once:

Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,

It seems to me most strange that men should fear:
Seeing that death, a necessary end,

Will come when it will come.

Enter a SERVvant.

What say the Augurs?

Serv. They would not have you to stir forth today.

Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,

They could not find a heart within the beast.

[Exit SERVANT.

Cæs. The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
Cæsar should be a beast without a heart,

If he should stay at home, to-day, for fear.
No, Cæsar shall not.

Cal. Alas, my lord,

Your wisdom is consumed in confidence:

Do not go forth to-day; call it my fear,

That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house,
And he will say you are not well to-day:
Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.

Cæs. Mark Antony shall say I am not well;
And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.

Enter DECIus.

Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.
Dec. Cæsar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Ca-

sar;

I come to fetch you to the senate-house.

Cæs. And you are come in very happy time,
To bear my greeting to the senators,

And tell them that I will not come to-day:
Cannot is false; and that I dare not, falser;
I will not come to-day; tell them so, Decius.
Cal. Say he is sick.

Cæs. Shall Cæsar send a lie?

Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
To be afraid to tell grey beards the truth?
Decius, go, tell them Cæsar will not come.

Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Least I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so.

Cæs. The cause is in my will, I will not come : That is enough to satisfy the senate.

But for your private satisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know.
Calphurnia, here, my wife, stays me at home:
She dreamt last night, she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans
Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it.
These she applies for warnings and portents,
And evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.
Dec. This dream is all amiss interpreted;
It was a vision fair and fortunate:

Your statue, spouting blood in many pipes,
Wherein so many smiling Romans bathed,
Signifies, that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood; and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognisance.
This by Calphurnia's dream is signified.

Cæs. And this way have you well expounded it. Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can say; And know it now, the senate have concluded To give this day a crown to mighty Cæsar,

If

you shall send them word you will not come, Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock, Apt to be render'd, for some one to say, "Break up the senate till another time,

When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams." If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper,

"Lo! Cæsar is afraid!"

Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear, dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this:
And reason to my love is liable.

Cæs. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia!

I am ashamed I did yield to them.
I will

go.

Enter METELLUS, CASCA, TREBONIUS, and CINNA,
And look where Trebonius comes to fetch me.
Pub. Good morrow, Cæsar.

Cas. Welcome, good Trebonius, welcome!
What is't o'clock?

Tre. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight.

Cæs. I thank you for your pains and courtesy.

Enter ANTONY.

See, Antony, that revels long o'nights,
Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.
Ant. So to most noble Cæsar.

Cas. Bid them prepare within:

I am to blame to be thus waited for.

Trebonius! I have an hour's talk in store for you. Remember that you call on me to-day;

Be near me, that I may remember you.

Tre. Cæsar, I will;

and so near will I be,

[Aside,

That your best friends shall wish I had been further. Caes. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me,

And we, like friends, will straightway go together.

[Exeunt.

ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE I.

A Street near the Capitol.

Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS.

Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the senate-house; Stay not to answer me, but get thee goneWhy dost thou stay?

Luc. To know my errand, madam.

Por. I would have had thee there, and here again, Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do there

O, constancy, be strong upon my side,

Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue; I have a man's mind, but a woman's might

Art thou here yet?

Luc. Madam, what shall I do?

Run to the capitol, and nothing else?

And so return to you, and nothing else?

Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,
For he went sickly forth; and take good note,
What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him.

Hark! boy, what noise is that?
Luc. I hear none, madam.

Por. Pr'ythee, listen well:

I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray;

And the wind brings it from the capitol.
Luc. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.

Enter ARTEMIDORUS.

Por. Come hither, fellow; which way hast thou been?

Art. At mine own house, good lady.

Por. What is't o'clock?

Art. About the ninth hour, lady.

Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the capitol?

Art. Madam, not yet;-I go to take my stand, To see him pass on to the capitol.

Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not? Art. That I have, lady, if it will please Cæsar To be so good to Cæsar, as to hear me,

I shall beseech him to befriend himself.

Por. Why, know'st thou any harm intended tow'rds him?

Art. None that I know will be, much that I fear.

Good morrow to you.

[Exit.

Por. I must go in- -Ah me! how weak a thing The heart of woman is !-O Brutus ! Brutus ! The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise! Sure, the boy heard me -Brutus hath a suit, That Cæsar will not grant.-O, I grow faintRun, Lucius, and commend me to my lord; Say, I am merry ;-come to me again,

And bring me word what he doth say to thee.

SCENE II.

The Capitol-SENATORS seated.

[Exeunt.

Flourish.-CAESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS,CASCA,DECIUS, METELLUS, Trebonius, Cinna, and ANTONY, discovered.

Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look

you,

Brutus,